Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-09-21
EuPHEMIA's DIAMONDS.
The Story of a sisters Sacrifice.

The Story OF n Sisters Sacrihce-
81 shant need this blue silk, Nettie,"
said Phemie, patroniZingly. lit VIII
do nicely for you, If you put on a new
.sThank you, very much" said Net
tie. going on with the packing.
Pbemie was the beauty OF the family
and she was going away to spend the
month of August at Rye Beach with an
aunt. Nettie had all her life toiled to
help her beautiful sister in getting her
dresses ready every season and she had
grown accustomed to seeing her favor
ed by every one in the house. The par
tiality thus shown by her father Tor
Phemie at times made her jealous, Dut
she bore it all meekly, for she was
secretly proud of her fair sister,
When Phemie came back from the
seashore she was engaged to be married,
and then Nettie felt sorry that she had
ever felt rebellious at favors being
showered on her when they must part
SO SOon-
Aunt Charlotte was TO buy the we'd
ding outfit. as Mr.. Eldreth's family
Mr.. Eldreth was the gentleman Phemie
and she dreaded criticism.
Nettie and her mother began lnsen-
sibIv to have a horror of Mr.. Eldreth,
and rather dreaded his advent among
them.
I'VE are such plain people," said
Nettie, who was wondering II 1t were
possible to get rid of some OF her treckleS
before this exquisite arrived.
She mildly ventured on this import
ant topic, while combing out Phemie'S
golden locks, one evening, over the
snowy shoulders, which were without
spot or blemish.
.sPshaw, child - answered Phemie,
goodnaturedly. Don't be absurd.
Charlie. | dare say, Will never see one
of your freckles. lie won't care SO long
as haven't any"
Cruel Euphemia Did she ever
think, III after years, OF that thought
less speechr
Meantime, there had been a mysteri-
Gus interview between Euphemia and
her father in reference to his bridal
present.
Now that Charlotte has saved me
the expense of those flim-flams, dearie,"
said her father, Il don't know what
shall do for my share toward fitting out
my darling"
.sOh, you precious old dearl" cried
Phemle Would you really and truly
give me what want z" And Phemie
patted and squeezed him.
But you will be frightened, 1 know"
said Phemie. ''Shall L whiSper:'
''YeS, if you like
Down came the rosy mouth, and II
must he confessed that the poor old gem
Il L.. lt....rl l,a ,R-hT
paled little.
Diamonds, my pet, - he cried.
Yes replied Phemie, nothfsg
ahashed. The ice Icing broken, she
was brave enough. Beautiful, big,
flashing diamonds. All, they are not
so horribly, awfully high, papa. Lots
OF girls no richer than l am wear them.
And | am to I've married, you know.
And, oh, l love them 50. 1t has been
the dream of my life. "
''Well, darling, we shall See.'' said
the doting old soul, kissing the sweet
lips gravely.
The whole household was appalled,
when this new freak of Phemle'S be-
came known.
''Govd gracious, father" said her
you would never think of such
a piece of extravaganza Z" And though
equally the slave of the spoiled beauty,
she turned pale at the thought.
Nevertheless, the diamonds were Of
fered up as a sacrifice, in their crimson
velvet case fairly striking Nettie dumb
in silent alteration.
Phemie sat up half the night, watch
ing the effect of the diamonds in her
bedroom mirror; while Nettie said her
prayers and fell asleep And Phemie's
cruel destiny stood by, mOcking the
foolish girl.
For when Charlie Eldreth came, and
saw the freckles, 10! he liked them.
There is nothing so perverse as the
human heart, you Will say. But there
was no peTverseness here. Charlie
realized, when he saw Nettie. there
were no cosmetics here. Nettie Saylor
was at least real flesh and blood; and
her currant tartS were delicious.
Hence it came to pass that. after a
while, Phemie played and sang TO un-
needing ears. The arIstocratic Mr..
Eldreth, with dreamy eyes, gazed
through the window to where two little
brown hands were feeding flock of
garTulOus pigeons, and he wondered
how he could ever have loved anybody
but this bewitching Cinderella Phe-
nlie was beautiful-as a portrait may
be, in a gilt frame-but how could she
stand the wear and tear of everyday
life?
Phemie at last realized it all And
now she showed out ofIwhat brave stun
she was made If her heart ached no
one knew 1t. If she wept the first bit
ter tears of her life it was long after
Nettie's eyes were closed in slumber.
'Nettie has made many sacrifices for
me, =" she said at last. ''Shall L be less
womanly? No, let her be happy, what
ever comes to me.''
Phenie was capable, you see, of
great sacrifice, which none rightly ap-
preciated but her father, who wept for
her.
SO one evening she sought out Ed
reth. She sought him out, we say, ad-
visedly; for he no longer concealed his
paTtiallty for Nettie; in fact, he was
always with her. But at last she caught
him alone.
\ glad light stole into his eyes un-
consciously TO himself as he heard what
she said.
'And you are sure of what you say,
rhemief'
Quite sure,'' she replied, in her
coolest tones. "It was Summer 5
romance, from which | have awaked,
and l beg you will release me-"
An hour afterward, Eldreth and Net
tie, walking under the harvest moon,
told their love openly, while Euphemia,
with swollen eyes and a broken heart,
carried the glitterIng diamonds, which
! now she could not bear to gaze upon,
and, placing them on Nettie's table,
left these lines:
These are my gifts to you, darling
sister. Sometime, when you wear them,
think Of her who loved you better than
/ herself EUPHEMIA. -
| Character Told by the Eye.
Blue eyes signify constance aud 10